A Tea Addict's Journal

It’s nice to be home again, drinking some tea that I like, in this case, a wet stored loose puerh.

Aside from the obvious, such as having a whole tea set to brew tea properly, drinking tea at home is invariably calmer and less stressful than, say, trying to drink tea the proper way away from home. It’s not the same to brew tea in a hotel room, or a tea room somewhere, as it is to do it in the comforts of one’s own home. Mind you, my room right now is still a mess, still suffering from the ill effects of moving a few hundred miles, but slowly, I can see it take shape and become something of a sanctuary.

One of the elements missing from my current tea room is some proper decorations. Right now, it is full of boxes and other junk from moving, and unfortunately, it will probably take a while to clear all that out. Just as a Japanese chashitsu has a toko, or alcove, where the host displays a work of art or flowers to set the mood, I think all of us can probably spend a little time to make it more comfortable. Whether it is a conscious display of teaware, or a little painting or even poster, having some objects to admire while drinking tea does, I think, enhance the experience a little.